Blister Pack with Fold Lines

ABSTRACT

A blister pack for objects, such as tablets, pills or capsules, comprises a plurality of accommodation units ( 1 ) which are interconnected along lines of weakness ( 2 ). Each accommodation unit ( 1 ) is provided with a piercable base sheet ( 5 ) and a cap part ( 4 ) which is fixed to the base sheet ( 5 ). An accommodation space ( 7 ) for accommodating an object ( 6 ) is formed between the base sheet and the cap part for each accommodation unit. The blister pack comprises a plurality of connecting parts ( 3 ), each of which is connected by way of two respective lines of weakness ( 2 ) to a least one accommodation unit in each case.

The invention relates to a blister pack for dosage forms of a pharmaceutical formulation which is suitable for enteral administration, such as tablets, pills or capsules, comprising a plurality of accommodation units which are interconnected along lines of weakness, each accommodation unit being provided with a piercable base sheet and a cap part which is fixed to the base sheet, an accommodation space for accommodating an object being formed between the base sheet and the cap part of each accommodation unit.

Such a blister pack is known. The blister pack forms a primary pack. The packed dosage forms, such as tablets, pills, capsules and the like, are also indicated below by the term objects. These objects are situated between the cap part and the base sheet. The cap part can be deformed by heat, so that individual accommodation units are produced. Each accommodation unit is sufficiently large to contain the form of the individual object. The cap part is closed off by the base sheet, which is fixed to the cap part. This type of blister pack is sold in a container, such as a cardboard box, which surrounds the blister pack. The container forms a secondary pack.

A disadvantage of this pack is, however, that because of the design of the blister pack described above, optimum use cannot be made of the available volume of the container, i.e. the secondary pack. The latter contains a considerable empty space. Furthermore, the base sheet does not provide sufficient security, with the result that the contents can come out of it prematurely. This means that it is possible for the objects to come out of the pack accidentally. When the individual accommodation units are torn off the standard blister pack, sharp edges occur on the pack, so that the user can injure himself and/or can damage the environment, and in particular the base sheet of the pack. In addition, the small mutual distance between the individual accommodation units makes them difficult to tear off. The result is that a number of adjacent base sheets of the individual accommodation units can be opened accidentally. Furthermore, the individual redistribution of the individual accommodation units, such as commonly occurs in institutions, is time-consuming and inefficient.

An object of the invention it to provide a blister pack which at least partially overcomes one or more of the abovementioned drawbacks.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the blister pack comprises a plurality of connecting parts, each of which is connected by way of two respective lines of weakness to at least one accommodation unit in each case. The blister pack according to the invention can be folded up along its lines of weakness. By folding up the blister pack with the connecting parts, which are provided between the accommodation units in such a way that they can be folded along the lines of weakness, the accommodation units can be placed, for example, alternately back to back against each other. This means that the space between the individual accommodation units is reduced, in other words the accommodation units of the folded blister pack according to the invention are packed more closely against each other. Since the volume taken up in the blister pack is then reduced, this produces a saving of space.

As a result of this, the empty space in the secondary pack which surrounds the blister pack according to the invention can be reduced. The secondary pack can consequently contain a blister pack with more objects, or the secondary pack can be made smaller while accommodating a blister pack with the same number of objects.

The blister pack can, for example, contain ten pills or more. In this case the connecting parts and the accommodation units connected to them can be aligned with each other in order to form an elongated, possibly folded strip. Said strip therefore comprises a series of accommodation units and connecting parts, which are connected to each other by way of the lines of weakness. Of course, it is also possible for the blister pack according to the invention to comprise a plurality of such series or strips which are interconnected parallel to and adjacent to each other along lines of weakness.

A further advantage of the blister pack according to the invention is that it means that less secondary packaging material is needed. The primary packaging material is also reduced by reducing the contact surface between the individual accommodation units by using connecting parts, with the result that it is possible to provide the individual accommodation units with a maximum material-saving method, which is possibly based on the contents of the individual accommodation units.

Yet a further advantage is that in the case of the blister pack according to the invention the risk of accidental opening of the individual accommodation units is reduced because of the fact that the connecting parts between the individual accommodation units make it possible to design the pack in such a way that the base sheets of the individual accommodation units ultimately lie back to back against each other, with the result that they keep each other secure. The contents of the individual accommodation units are consequently better protected.

Another advantage is that the blister pack according to the invention prevents damage to the pack itself, injury to the user and damage to the environment of the pack, owing to the fact that the accommodation unit does not have any sharp corners.

Another advantage is that user convenience is increased by the fact of simply tearing along the lines of weakness of the individual accommodation units, since the mutual distance between the individual accommodation units is increased in pairs by the mutual connecting parts. This gives users more space to press the individual contents per accommodation unit out of the primary pack through base sheet, which reduces the risk of accidentally pressing out several accommodation units.

Another advantage is more efficient redistribution of the individual accommodation units by the fact that the connecting parts make it possible to wind the primary packaging material onto a core body, so that large quantities of individual accommodation units can be supplied on a roll. This means that the individual primary packs do not have to be taken out of the secondary pack and, partly because of the abovementioned advantage, namely the improvement of tearing along the lines of weakness of the individual accommodation units, a more efficient redistribution in terms of time can be achieved, so that financial advantage can be obtained and ease of use of individual accommodation units can be achieved.

It is noted that a pharmaceutical pack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,706. This pack has a pair of blister sheets which are interconnected by a hinge part. The blister sheets can be folded along the hinge part, so that the blister sheets lie above one another. The cap parts of the blister sheets are accommodated inside each other after folding. This pack is not, however, provided with a plurality of connecting parts, so that the accommodation units of the blister sheets cannot be individually folded. Besides, the base sheet of this blister pack faces outwards, which increases the risk of damage.

It is noted that a pack is disclosed in GB 2096574. This pack comprises a transparent cover which is fixed to a cardboard base sheet. A bottle is accommodated between the two. A plurality of these packs can be connected to each other by way of perforation lines. A spacer is provided between two pairs of interconnected packs. This makes it possible to fold up the packs. However, this pack does not relate to dosage forms of a pharmaceutical formulation which is suitable for enteral administration.

It is possible according to the invention for the lines of weakness of the connecting part to be situated on either side of said connecting part. In this case the lines of weakness are provided on opposite edges of the connecting part. The lines of weakness extend substantially parallel to each other.

It is preferable according to the invention for the connecting part or each connecting part to be connected by way of each line of weakness thereof to a pair of accommodation units which are directly connected to each other by way of a line of weakness. In this case two accommodation units in each case are directly connected to each other along a line of weakness, which two accommodation units form a pair. A connecting part is provided in each case between said pairs of accommodation units, which connecting part is connected by way of lines of weakness to each pair.

It is possible according to the invention for each accommodation unit to be of a height which is determined by the distance running substantially perpendicularly relative to the base sheet from the base sheet to the top of the cap part, and for the connecting part to be of a length which is determined by the distance between its lines of weakness, and for the length of the connecting part to be substantially greater than or equal to the height of an accommodation unit. The lines of weakness of a connecting part are the lines of weakness by means of which said connecting part is connected to one or two accommodation units in each case.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the length of the connecting part is at least equal to substantially twice the height of an accommodation unit. If the ratio of said length and said height is substantially equal to two, the blister pack can be folded up in zigzag fashion to a particularly compact size. The length of the connecting parts can, however, also be greater than twice the height of the accommodation units.

It is possible according to the invention for each accommodation unit to be of a length which is determined by the distance between the lines of weakness by means of which said accommodation unit is connected to a connecting part and/or further accommodation unit, and for the length of the connecting part to be substantially less than the length of the accommodation unit. The lines of weakness of an accommodation unit are the lines of weakness by means of which said accommodation unit is connected to a connecting part or a further accommodation unit in each case.

In an embodiment according to the invention each accommodation unit and each connecting part is of a respective width which in each case is determined by its maximum distance in the direction running substantially parallel to the lines of weakness, and the width of the connecting part is less than the width of an accommodation unit. The connecting parts are then narrower than the accommodation units.

In an embodiment of the invention the circumference of each accommodation unit substantially corresponds to the circumference of the object accommodated in it. If the blister pack according to the invention is filled with, for example, disc-shaped pills, which are substantially round, it is preferable for each accommodation unit also to be of a round shape.

According to the invention, the blister pack can comprise various materials. For example, the base sheet of the accommodation units is made of aluminium, while the cap part of the accommodation units is made of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The base sheet and/or the cap part can, however, also comprise other materials. Other materials suitable for the base sheet and/or the cap part are, for example, amorphous polyamide (PA), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polypropylene (PP), cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polystyrene (PS), biaxially oriented polyamide (OPA), chlorotrifluoroethyelene (CTFE), high-density polyethylene (RDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or paper. The base sheet and/or the cap part can also be made of, for example, any combination of the abovementioned materials.

The invention also relates to an assembly of a blister pack of the type described above and a container in which said blister pack is accommodated. It is possible here for the blister pack to be folded up in zigzag fashion and for the dimensions of the container to correspond substantially to the dimensions of the folded blister pack. The blister pack folded up in zigzag fashion is then accommodated in a close fit in the container, for example a box. The pack formed by the assembly is compact.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for packaging objects such as tablets, pills or capsules, comprising the provision of a blister pack of the type described above and folding up the blister pack, preferably in zigzag fashion, along the lines of weakness.

The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, in which:

FIGS. 1A-D show four side views of a blister pack according to a first embodiment, folded up substantially in zigzag fashion, the opening out of two accommodation units being shown in four steps;

FIGS. 2A-D show four top views of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-D;

FIGS. 3A-D show four top views of a blister pack according to a second embodiment, folded up substantially in zigzag fashion, the opening out of two pairs of accommodation units being shown in four steps;

FIG. 4A shows an elevational view in cross section of an accommodation unit of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4B-C show a top view and side view of the accommodation unit shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a blister pack in a folded state;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the blister pack shown in FIG. 5 in a semi-folded state;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the blister pack shown in FIG. 5 in a substantially fully opened-out state;

FIGS. 8A-D show four top views of four different embodiments of connecting parts of a blister pack respectively;

FIG. 9 shows an enlarged top view of an accommodation unit and a connecting part;

FIG. 10 shows two side views of a blister pack, in which the length of the connecting part is twice the height of the accommodation unit;

FIGS. 11A, B are views of a blister pack which can be rolled up around a core body;

FIG. 12 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a blister pack in a folded state;

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, in an opened-out state.

The embodiment of the blister pack shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a strip of ten accommodation units 1. The number of accommodation units can, of course, be different. The accommodation units 1 form a single row. The blister pack has several pairs of accommodation units directly connected to each other. A line of weakness 2 is situated between each pair of accommodation units 1.

The blister pack comprises a number of connecting parts 3—in this exemplary embodiment four connecting parts 3. The connecting parts 3 are provided between two pairs of accommodation units 1 in each case. The connecting parts 3 are connected by means of lines of weakness 2 to the adjacent accommodation units 1.

The blister pack can be folded up in zigzag fashion along the lines of weakness to the state shown in FIG. 1A. From the folded state the accommodation units can be opened out or deployed, as shown in FIGS. 1B-D.

FIGS. 1A and 1B furthermore show diagrammatically by dashed and dotted lines a container in which the blister pack can be accommodated. In this exemplary embodiment the blister pack forms a primary pack, and the container forms a secondary pack. The dimensions of the container are adapted to the dimensions of the blister pack in the folded state. Between the inside of the container and the folded blister pack there is only a relatively small amount of play. The container can be in different forms. For example, the container is in the form of a cardboard box with a lip on one end face or on both end faces. The lip can be opened out to reach the blister pack.

Since this exemplary embodiment has only a single row of accommodation units 1, there can be an odd number of accommodation units 1. If a doctor prescribes a treatment of an odd number of pills, for example 5 or 7, the blister pack according to the invention can be adapted to this. This means that no accommodation units remain unused, as regularly occurs in the case of known pharmaceutical blister packs.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 comprises two parallel strips of accommodation units 1. The strips form two adjacent rows of accommodation units 1. The accommodation units 1 of each strip are connected to each other in pairs by one connecting part 3 in each case. Each connecting part 3 is connected by way of two opposite lines of weakness 2 to two accommodation units 1 in each case, which accommodation units are directly connected to each other by way of a line of weakness 2. The parallel strips of accommodation units 1 are fixed to each other at laterally adjacent accommodation units 1 thereof in each case. Although this exemplary embodiment comprises two strips of ten accommodation units 1, i.e. a total of twenty accommodation units 1, said double blister pack can, of course, comprise more or fewer accommodation units 1.

The accommodation units 1 of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 each comprise a piercable base sheet or bottom sheet 5 and a cap part 4, which is fixed to the base sheet 5 (see FIG. 4A). The cap part 4 of each accommodation unit 1 has a circumferential edge which is aligned relative to the piercable base sheet 5 (see also FIGS. 4B and 4C). The cap part 4 and the base sheet 5 bound an interior accommodation space 7. The accommodation space 7 contains a dosage form 6 of a pharmaceutical formulation which is suitable for enteral or oral administration, such as tablets, pills or capsules. The dosage forms 6 form objects packed in the blister pack.

FIG. 4A shows furthermore that the connecting part 3 can have a further line of weakness 2′. The line of weakness 2′ is, for example, provided centrally between the lines of weakness 2 by means of which the connecting part 3 is connected to the adjacent accommodation units 1. The further line of weakness 2′ reduces the risk of the base sheet 5 tearing when an accommodation unit 1 is removed from the blister pack.

The way in which an embodiment of a blister pack according to the invention is opened out is shown further in FIGS. 5-7. Said blister pack can comprise one strip or two or more laterally connected strips of accommodation units 1. Although the strip or strips in FIGS. 5-7 comprise six accommodation units, the number of accommodation units 1 can differ from this number. The accommodation units 1 are connected to each other in pairs in each case by a connecting part 3, which is provided with lines of weakness 2. Each accommodation unit 1 is connected on either side of said unit by way of a line of weakness 2 in each case to a connecting part 3 and a further accommodation unit 1 respectively.

The connecting part 3 can be designed in various ways according to the invention. For example, the connecting part is formed as shown in FIGS. 8A-D. The connecting parts 3, 103, 203, 303 are provided between two pairs of accommodation units 1. The connecting parts 3, 103, 203, 303 are connected by way of lines of weakness 2 to said pairs of accommodation units 1.

The accommodation units 1 according to the invention can be of a round shape. The line of weakness between the accommodation unit 1 and the connecting part 3 is preferably straight, but it can also correspond to the round shape of the accommodation unit (see FIG. 9). The cap part 4 is connected to the piercable base sheet 5 for the purpose of protecting the enclosed object 6. There may be play between the object 6 and the cap part 4 and/or base sheet 5.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 10 the length L of the connecting part 3 is twice the height H of the accommodation units 1. The accommodation units 1 are connected to each other in pairs by way of the lines of weakness 2, with the interposition of a connecting element 3 in each case. The accommodation units 1 of each pair are likewise connected to each other by way of a line of weakness 2. Adapting the length L of the connecting parts 3 and the height H of the accommodation units 1 of the blister pack to each other makes the blister pack particularly compact in the folded state.

In an alternative embodiment (see FIG. 11) the strip of accommodation units 1 and connecting parts 3 which are connected by lines of weakness 2 is rolled up in a direction 9 around a core body 8. According to the invention, one strip or a plurality of strips of accommodation units 1 laterally connected to each other can be rolled up on the core body 8. In addition, it is possible for said rolled-up strip or strips of accommodation units not to have any connecting parts 3, i.e. the accommodation units in this case are connected to each other only by way of lines of weakness.

A further embodiment of the blister pack according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Said blister pack can be folded up in zigzag fashion along the lines of weakness 2, the base sheets 5 resting against the cap parts 4. The blister pack is shown opened out in FIG. 13. A connecting part 3 is situated between each pair of adjacent accommodation units 1, which connecting part is connected by way of lines of weakness 2 to said accommodation units 1. The cap parts 4 of adjacent accommodation units 1 lie on either side of the base sheet 5. The length of the connecting parts 3 in this exemplary embodiment is substantially equal to the height of the accommodation units 1.

Of course, the invention is not limited by the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, which the person skilled in the art can adapt in various ways. For example, the number of accommodation units 1 of the blister pack according to the invention can be extended by adding further strips of accommodation units 1 and connecting parts 3 and/or extending one or more strips by adding further accommodation units 1 and connecting parts 3. It is also possible according to the invention for more than one or two accommodation units 1 to be provided between two connecting parts 3 of a strip. It is even possible for the number of accommodation units 1 between two connecting parts 3 in a strip of accommodation units 1 and connecting parts 1 to vary. 

1-22. (canceled)
 23. Blister pack for dosage forms of a pharmaceutical formulation which is suitable for enteral administration, such as tablets, pills or capsules, comprising a plurality of accommodation units which are interconnected along lines of weakness, each accommodation unit being provided with a piercable base sheet and a cap part which is fixed to the base sheet, an accommodation space for accommodating a dosage form being formed between the base sheet and the cap part of each accommodation unit, each accommodation space containing a dosage form, characterized in that the blister pack comprises a plurality of connecting parts, each of which is connected by way of two respective lines of weakness to at least one accommodation unit in each case.
 24. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which the lines of weakness of the connecting part are situated on either side of said connecting part.
 25. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which each connecting part is connected by way of each line of weakness thereof to a pair of accommodation units which are directly connected to each other by way of a line of weakness.
 26. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which each accommodation unit is of a height which is determined by the distance running substantially perpendicularly relative to the base sheet from the base sheet to the cap part, and the connecting part is of a length which is determined by the distance between its lines of weakness, and in which the length of the connecting part is substantially greater than or equal to the height of an accommodation unit.
 27. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which the length of a connecting part is at least equal to substantially twice the height of an accommodation unit.
 28. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which each accommodation unit is of a length which is determined by the distance between the lines of weakness by means of which said accommodation unit is connected to a connecting part and/or further accommodation unit, and in which the length of the connecting part is substantially less than the length of the accommodation unit.
 29. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which the blister pack is folded up along more than two of the lines of weakness.
 30. Blister pack according to claim 29, in which the base sheets of at least two accommodation units directly connected to each other along a line of weakness face each other.
 31. Blister pack according to claim 29, in which the cap part and the base part respectively of two accommodation units connected to each other by means of a connecting part face each other.
 32. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which each accommodation unit and each connecting part is of a respective width, which in each case is determined by its maximum distance in the direction running substantially parallel to the lines of weakness, and in which the width of the connecting part is less than the width of an accommodation unit.
 33. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which the accommodation units are detachable from each other along the lines of weakness.
 34. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which the circumference of each accommodation unit corresponds to the circumference of the object accommodated in it.
 35. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which the circumference of each accommodation unit is substantially rounded.
 36. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which a core body is provided, and in which the accommodation units with the connecting part between them are rolled onto the core body.
 37. Blister pack according to claim 23, in which the base sheet of the accommodation units is made of aluminium, and in which the cap part of the accommodation units is made of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
 38. Assembly of a blister pack according to claim 23, and a container in which said blister pack is accommodated.
 39. Assembly according to claim 38, in which the blister pack is folded up along more than two of the lines of weakness, and in which the dimensions of the container substantially correspond to the dimensions of the folded blister pack.
 40. Method for packaging objects such as tablets, pills or capsules, comprising the provision of a blister pack according to claim 23; folding up the blister pack, preferably in zigzag fashion, along the lines of weakness.
 41. Method according to claim 40, in which the base sheets of at least two accommodation units directly connected to each other along a line of weakness are folded towards each other.
 42. Method according to claim 40, in which the cap parts of at least two accommodation units connected to each other by means of a connecting part are folded towards each other.
 43. Method according to claim 40, in which the cap part and the base part respectively of two accommodation units connected to each other by means of a connecting part are folded towards each other.
 44. Method according to claim 40, in which a container for accommodating the blister pack is provided, and in which the folded blister pack is placed in the container. 